YMCA to resume its annual 5K Chili Run

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

By Julia Kilmer reporter@cassville-democrat.com

Along with the opportunity to taste some fantastic chili and salsa and enjoy shopping and entertainment at the Chili & Salsa Cook-Off this month, the Cassville YMCA is giving local residents an opportunity to get some exercise and help local families at the same time for its annual 5K Chili Run event.

The event will take place at 8 a.m. on the Cassville square, concurrent with the official kickoff of the festival.

"This is our seventh chili run," said Dove Haney, center executive for the Cassville YMCA. "We did not do the run last year because the route is along the Greenway Trail and the bridges were washed out due to the flooding. It was the first year we haven't done it in several years."

The event will also include a 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk for participants who do not wish to complete the entire 5K.

Each year, the event is held concurrently with the Chili & Salsa Cook-Off, and the YMCA will be one of over 90 vendors at the event, selling hot dogs, cotton candy and hot chocolate, as well as providing information about its programs and activities offered throughout the year.

Registration fees are $15 in advance and $20 on the day of the event. Participants can register at the Cassville YMCA, or online at www.orymca.org (click on Cassville tab).

"Every participant will receive a T-shirt, and we'll have trophies for the top three in every age group," said Haney. "We'll also have door prizes and a drawing."

Participants are invited to dress up as their favorite TV character from the 1970s and 1980s, which is the theme for the Chili Cook-Off event this year, and will have an opportunity to win a door prize for the best-dressed character.

Along with getting some good exercise and enjoying a family-friendly event, participants can also feel good about the fact that they are giving back to their local community, as proceeds benefit the YMCA's annual campaign that gives scholarships to local children and families for programs like summer camp and child care.

The trail will run from the square to the Greenway trail, Cassville Aquatic Park, Civil War loop behind the park, by the baseball fields, then back to the square.